Finned heat exchanger and system

ABSTRACT

In a heat exchanger primarily for usage in conjunction with a marine vessel, said heat exchanger includes a longitudinal member formed having at least one passageway provided therethrough, and a series of radially extending fins integrally connecting longitudinally of said member. The longitudinal member is preferably approximately semicircular in configuration, with said fins extending from the conic-like surface of said semicircular design, with the other or flat surface of said member provided for flush mounting against the hull of the vessel. Said fittings communicate by means of fluid lines with the cooling system of the inboard engine of the vessel, thereby providing a path for transfer of its cooling fluid or medium from said engine, and through the heat exchanger for effective dissipation of its heat out of the radial fins and into the ambient water.

United States Patent [1 1 Knaebel et al.

[ 51 Oct. 15,1974

[ FINNED HEAT EXCHANGER AND SYSTEM [76] Inventors: Thomas C. Knaebel, 405 Lindgate Dr.; Douglas G. Birk, 917 Mindy Ln., both of Kirkwood, Mo. 63122 [22] Filed: June 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 369,225

Primary ExaminerCharles Sukalo Attorney, Agent, or FirmPaul M. Denk [5 7 ABSTRACT In a heat exchanger primarily for usage in conjunction with a marine vessel, said heat exchanger includes a longitudinal member formed having at least one passageway provided therethrough, and a series of radially extending fins integrally connecting longitudinally of said member. The longitudinal member is preferably approximately semicircular in configuration, with said fins extending from the conic-like surface of said semicircular design, with the other or flat surface of said member provided for flush mounting against the hull of the vessel. Said fittings communicate by means of fluid lines with the cooling system of the inboard engine of the vessel, thereby providing a path for transfer of its cooling fluid or medium from said engine, and through the heat exchanger for effective dissipation of its heat out of the radial tins and into the ambient water.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIEmmum 1 51924 SNEEI 10F 2 3 N vP P mQE SHEEI 2 BF 2 PAIENIEB 0m x 51914 FINNED HEAT EXCHANGER AND SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a heat exchanger, but more particularly, one that preferably has application for enhancing heat transfer from the inboard motor of a boat or other marine vessel.

Various styles of heat exchangers have been provided in the prior art principally for use in conjunction with the hull of the vessel and designed for dissipating the heat generated within its internal combustion engine. Most of these heat exchangers, or coolers, are designed having headers that mount to the keel of a vessel, said headers communicating with the cooling jacket of the boat engine, and further providing one or more tubes extending between said headers and through which the cooling means may be pumped to facilitate its heat exchange. These prior art devices are generally effective for their intended purposes, but the present invention provides a unique design in this type of a heat exchanger and which achieves enhanced heat transfer through the use of a finned heat exchanger mounting flush and longitudinally upon the hull of the vessel.

lt is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a heat exchanger which attains increased heat transfer from a longitudinally finned heat exchanger. It might be stated that the marine industry has long been plagued with failures in its engines, pumps, oil coolers, water condensers, refrigeration condensers, primarily due to the corrosive action of sea water which has heretofore frequently been used as the cooling medium. As is well known, electrolytic corrosion, fretting and general decomposition of the heat exchange materials through their contact with the sea water has been a constant source of costly maintenance and repair. Many hazardous and catastrophic failures at sea have been caused by breakdowns of this type due to the fact that the deterioriation of the aforesaid nature is generally concealed from view with the corrosive effects of the sea water generally being undetectable beforehand.

Hence, it is another object of this invention to pro vide a unique and improved heat transfer system for the cooling of the internal combustion engine, its lubricating oil, and for a refrigeration condenser cooling and the like. Generally, this system contemplated a closed loop cooling system method by which the heat dissipation is affected through the disposition of a finned heat exchanger to the surrounding heat absorbing environment, rather than, as previously described with respect to the marine industry, having to absorb any sea water inboard to cool its aforesaid mechanical apparatuses.

It is another object of this invention to provide a heat exchanger which may be mounted longitudinally of the hull of a vessel, disposing its radial fins to the sea water, and being arranged in a manner that enhances the streamlined design and functioning of the keel and bilge portions of the vessel to reduce drag on its hull during movement.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a heat exchanger which can be easily manufactured, and whose installation can be easily accomplished due to its composite and compact design by one not necessarily possessing high mechanical skill.

The foregoing and other objects will become more apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the following summary, and upon reviewing the description of the SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates a heat exchanger which incorporates structure that performs two basic purposes, first, providing a passageway through a longitudinal member which integrally incorporates a series of radially disposed fins, for enhancing heat exchange for cooling the medium traversing through its passageway, while secondly, the invention incorporates flange means integral with the longitudinal member to provide for flush and stable mounting of the device to a supporting surface. while the heat exchanger may be utilized in a variety of applications, more preferably, it has been constructed for use in conjunction with the hull of a vessel, mounted below its water line when buoyant, and thereby expose the finned exchanger to the ambient water to enhance heat flow into the said surrounding environment.

As stated, the heat exchanger incorporates a longitudinal like member, which principally is manufactured as a straight member, but may be constructed of any malleable material, such as aluminum, magnesium, or the like, so that it may be contoured slightly to provide for its flush mounting upon the supporting surface to which it will be connected, for example, the curved side of the vessel. The longitudinal member provides at least one passage along its length, and at either end is connected to a fitting which may be rigidly secured to the surface of the hull, with each fitting communicating with a flow line to provide for transfer of the engines cooling medium through the exchanger and to and from its cooling jacket. Preferably the invention has been designed for providing a means for cooling the water or other cooling medium normally contained within the cooling jacket of an internal combustion engine, such as the type usually utilized within an inboard marine vessel, but the invention may also be utilized for cooling other of its fluids, such as its lubricating oil. In addition, the invention can be constructed into a closed loop type of heat dissipator, containing a permanent type of anti freeze where needed, and be installed during manufacture of the vessel. Furthermore, the invention could be adapted to other types of apparatuses for cooling any of its warmed mediums, through exposure of its finned longitudinal members to the surrounding ambient environment. While the preferred embodiment of this invention discloses the longitudinal member as having its radial fins extending outwardly from its surface, it is just as likely, and within the teachings of the heat exchange art, that the radial fins could extend inwardly of the longitudinal member within its flow passageway, and thereby radiate the cooling mediums heat through said fins and longitudinal member into the surrounding atmosphere. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a marine vessel disclosing the heat exchanger of this invention as being mounted adjacent its hull;

FIG. 2 provides a partial plan view of the heat exchanger of this invention;

FIG. 3 provides a cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 provides a sectional view of one end or the heat exchanger taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. provides a sectional view of one fitting of the heat exchanger taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 provides a sectional view similar to the view disclosed in FIG. 3, but showing a modification in said heat exchanger.

In referring to FIG. 1, there is disclosed a marine vessel, such as an inboard yacht A, and which shows the invention B being mounted lengthwise along the hull of the vessel below its water line, so that any heated medium flowing through the heat exchanger will be exposed preferably to the sea water to enhance heat transfer from the said cooling medium. As will be hereinafter described, the preferred embodiment of this invention does contemplate the use of fins upon its external surface, and by properly arranging this heat exchanger at a location approximate the bilge of the hull, or where its sides commenceto rise vertically from said bilge, not only is increased heat exchange achieved, as aforesaid, but the planing characteristics of the vessel during usage can be enhanced.

The heat exchanger B is more aptly disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3, and is therein shown comprising a longitudinally disposed member I provided with at least one passageway therethrough along its length, with said longitudinal member having a series of radiating fins 3 extending integrally from its surface, and useful for dissipating the heat of any fluid medium that may be flowing through said passageway 2. It is to be noted that these fins are somewhat thicker at their base where they join integrally with the surface of the longitudinal member than they are at their tips where they extend and project into the surrounding environment, such as the sea water, and with this type of design provides for uniform and constant heat transfer along their length and height. As previously described, it is likely that these fins could project interiorly of the passage 2 and provide some service in inducing heat transfer from the cooling medium flowing therethrough for exchange into the surrounding environment.

The longitudinal member I is also provided with a pair of integral flanges 4 that extend laterally from its base, and is useful for providing flush mounting of the heat exchanger against any surface, such as the hull 5 of the vessel A. Each flange is provided with a longitudinal groove 6 along its length, and facilitates the locating and positioning of the fastener means, such as the screws 7,-that stably mount the heat exchanger to a surface. It is also to be noted from FIG. 3 that the underside of the heat exchanger is provided with a recessed portion 8 which provides clearance to enhance its flush mounting to a surface when the fasteners 7 are attached. Obviously, it is easier to acquire the slight bending necessary to the heat exchanger flanges 4 and conform them to the supporting surface to which it mounts upon application of the fastener 7 by providing a recess at this base portion.

As also shown in FIG. 2, in addition to FIGS. 4 and 5, there are provided a pair of fittings 9 and 10 at either end of the longitudinal member 1 of the heat exchanger, and each fitting is provided with a passageway 11 therethrough and angularly turned, approximately to provide an inward directing of the flow of the cooling medium into the hull of the vessel and to provide for attachment to the various flow lines communicating with the cooling jacket of the vessels engine, its lubricating oil reservoir, or other standard components of the internal combustion engine of said vessel that require cooling. Each fitting cooperates with a connector 12 which is snugly and hermetically sealed within its passageway 11 by means of a sealing ring 13, while the other end of said connector may be threadedly engaged, as at 14, internally within the passageway 2 of the longitudinal member 1. Obviously, it is just as likely that said connector may threadedly engage within the fitting 10, while its other end may be secured within the heat exchanger as shown at 14, or perhaps a sealing ring may be used at that location for hermetically sealing the connector within the passage of said heat exchanger. As can be seen, the connector 12 itself is also provided with a passageway therethrough, as at 15, to provide for unobstructed flow of the cooling medium therethrough and into or out of the passage 2.

A second connector 16 is threadedly engaged, as at 17, within the opposite end of the connector 10, and also incorporates an internally formed passageway 18 through which the cooling medium may flow while traveling to or from the heat exchanger member 1. The means for providing a fluid type connection of both the fitting and the connector 16 to the hull 5 of the vessel may be achieved in the usual manner, whereby a fastening ring 19 may threadedly engage said connector 16, or be fixedly attached in any other manner, for pressing against another sealing ring 20 that compresses against the inner side edges of the aperture 21 provided through the hull 5. Likewise, the fitting 10 is provided with a lip 22 that is designed for snug fitting within the hull aperture 21, and an integral flange surrounding the fitting 10 is designed for accommodating a series of fastening means, such as the screws 23 for securely mounting the fitting to said hull. Hence, a fluid type seal may be provided through the hull in this manner so as to prevent, as in the case of a vessel, any sea water from leaking into the same, while likewise, the fluid tight seal provided between the various connectors l2 and 16 with the fitting l0, and the longitudinal member 1 of the heat exchanger, prevents any undesirable intermixing of sea water with the cooling medium or other fluid passing through and receiving the advantages of the heat exchanger of this invention.

A modified form of the longitudinal member of this heat exchanger is shown in FIG. 6, wherein said longitudinal member 24 may be formed having a pair of passageways 25 provided therethrough so as to enhance the heat transfer characteristics of the device, with said member having the integral flanges 26 extending laterally from either side and being formed for functioning in the manner as previously described. Likewise, a series of fins 28 project, as shown in this case, exteriorly from the longitudinal member 24 to enhance heat flow out of the heat exchanger.

For further elaboration, the longitudinal members of this invention are generally formed having a configuration somewhat of a semicircular design, with the fins radiating from the conic like surface of said member, and the said flanges projecting laterally from what may be described as the flat portion of the semicircular design of the heat exchanger when viewed in cross section. Hence, and where the invention is disclosed in this modified form as in FIG. 6, the cross section of the longitudinal member will not comprise an exact semicircular design, but it still contains somewhat of a conic design so as to provide a surface from which the fins may project reasonably radially for extending into the surrounding ambient environment.

Where the heat exchanger is to be used upon the hull of a seagoing vessel as previously analyzed, it has been found that this particular design of a heat exchanger is advantageous over what is disclosed in the prior art, since the flanges 4 and 26 of the member are disposed for flush mounting against the hull of the vessel, and thereby little or no foreign matter can become adheared to or lodged against the same, such as seaweed or other floating debris. Furthermore, the accumulation of barnicles, algae, or other bacterial growths are prevented from accummulating or germinating between the heat exchanger and the vessel hull due to the flush mounting of the flanges of this invention, which incidentally, may be additionally adheared to the hull through the use of an epoxy or other adhesive. F urthermore, the streamlined effect provided in having the fins radially extending from a heat exchanger enhances the removal of any algae as the vessel travels through the water, due to the projection of its fins into the same.

Numerous variations in the construction of the heat exchanger of this invention, within the scope of the appended claims, will occur to those skilled in the art in light of the forgoing disclosure. For example, as previously described, it might be desirable to extend the fins of the heat exchanger inwardly, rather than exteriorly, so as to minimize any damage that might be caused through the encountering of logs or driftwood that these vessels usually contact during usage. The embodiments shown and described are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described the invention what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a water buoyant marine vessel incorporating an engine and cooling jacket capable of along the length of the hull, said longitudinal member having at least one passage formed therethrough, said longitudinal member being approximately semicircular in cross section and formed having a conic-like side and a flat surface, a series of radially disposed longitudinal fins integrally formed from the conic-like side of the longitudinal member and extending into the ambient environment to enhance heat dissipation from the cooling medium, said radial fins being formed having a tapered design and narrowing from their connection with and extension from the conic-like side of the longitudinal member of the heat exchanger, flanges integrally connecting to and extending diametrically from either edge of the flat surface of said heat exchanger along the length of its longitudinal member, fastening means cooperating with said flanges to secure said heat exchanger to the vessel hull, said flanges being provided with slots along their length to facilitate the positioning of said fastening means, the combined flat surface of the heat exchanger and the underside of said flanges being formed having a recess therein to provide clearance for flush mounting of said heat exchanger to the vessel hull, said heat exchanger including a pair of fittings at the ends of its longitudinal member for hermetically sealing the exchanger at the location where it connects interiorly of the hull for communicating with the fluid flow means of said cooling jacket, connectors provided for securement of said fittings to each end of the longitudinal member, each connector inserting into the end of said longitudinal member and also into the proximate fitting, a sealing ring provided between said fitting and its connector to hermetically seal the same together, both of said connectors and the fittings have passages formed therethrough communicating with the passage of the longitudinal member for accommodating the flow of the cooling medium of the engine there'- through, additional connectors attaching with the fittings and disposed for extending through the hull of the vessel, a fastening ring cooperating with each said additional connectors for hermetically sealing said heat exchanger to the vessel hull to prevent interior leakage of the ambient water.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal member of the heat exchanger is provided with a pair of passages internally along its length to accommodate the flow of the cooling medium therethrough. 

1. In combination with a water buoyant marine vessel incorporating an engine and cooling jacket capable of holding a supply of cooling medium, a heat exchanger mounted to the external surface of the hull of the vessel below its water line, a pair of fluid flow means connecting the proximate ends of said heat exchanger to the cooling jacket of the engine for use in transfer of the cooling medium to and from said jacket, said heat exchanger including a longitudinal member of a length to provide for its connection in a direction approximately along the length of the hull, said longitudinal member having at least one passage formed therethrough, said longitudinal member being approximately semicircular in cross section and formed having a conic-like side and a flat surface, a series of radially disposed longitudinal fins integrally formed from the conic-like side of the longitudinal member and extending into the ambient environment to enhance heat dissipation from the cooling medium, said radial fins being formed having a tapered design and narrowing from their connection with and extension from the conic-like side of the longitudinal member of the heat exchanger, flanges integrally connecting to and extending diametrically from either edge of the flat surface of said heat exchanger along the length of its longitudinal member, fastening means cooperating with said flanges to secure said heat exchanger to the vessel hull, said flanges being provided with slots along their length to facilitate the positioning of said fastening means, the combined flat surface of the heat exchanger and the underside of said flanges being formed having a recess therein to provide clearance for flush mounting of said heat exchanger to the vessel hull, said heat exchanger including a pair of fittings at the ends of its longitudinal member for hermetically sealing the exchanger at the location where it connects interiorly of the hull for communicating with the fluid flow means of said cooling jacket, connectors provided for securement of said fittings to each end of the longitudinal member, each connector inserting into the end of said longitudinal member and also into the proximate fitting, a sealing ring provided between said fitting and its connector to hermetically seal the same together, both of said connectors and the fittings have passages formed therethrough communicating with the passage of the longitudinal member for accommodating the flow of the cooling medium of the engine therethrough, additional connectors attaching with the fittings and disposed for extending through the hull of the vessel, a fastening ring cooperating with each said additional connectors for hermetically sealing said heat exchanger to the vessel hull to prevent interior leakage of the ambient water.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal member of the heat exchanger is provided with a pair of passages internally along its length to accommodate the flow of the cooling medium therethrough. 